With the OKC Thunder out of the playoffs, which team should Oklahoma City fans be rooting for to go all the way?
Conventional fan wisdom tells up that fans of the OKC Thunder should be rooting for the Utah Jazz, right? That is the team that ousted Oklahoma City from the playoffs, so proof of further validity is always welcome.
Here is another angle though, and it also applies to the New Orleans Pelicans. If the Jazz or Pels pull off a stunner and move on to the Western Conference Finals or playoffs, they will in fact be validated.
That means they not only build confidence for next season, but become a contending free agent destination in the West. As Thunder fans we do not want that.
So a Western Conference Finals between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors it is. No one would bat an eye if the Warriors go crazy from here on out. The Rockets have just begun to test their powers, so a drubbing from the Warriors would make folks question the Rockets and James Harden and Chris Paul‘s playoff potency. Good… good….
Still, KD must not be allowed more championships
Who then, is the OKC Thunder fan’s champion from the East? After Joel Embiid beefing with Russell Westbrook, it cannot be Philly. So it is the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals to face… our eventual champion.
Root for who you want, OKC Thunder fan, but let me tell you that cheering for the Toronto Raptors will let you down. LeBron James just has their number.
As an OKC Thunder fan, we need Cleveland to roll through the Raps, then the Celtics, and then have another bout with the Warriors in the NBA Finals. An overdone matchup to be sure, but the one we may want.
The basketball fan in you would probably like to see some new faces. The OKC Thunder however need LeBron to want to stay in Cleveland, and another championship would make him crazy for considering bolting to the West (I.e. Spurs, Lakers). Plus, being petty is fun and Durant loses.
Hey, with the OKC Thunder out, you have to cheer for someone. Go Cavaliers.